01. Blackest Eyes02. Trains03. Lips Of Ashes04. The Sound Of Muzak05. Gravity Eyelids06. Wedding Nails07. Prodigal08. .309. The Creator Has A Mastertape10. Heartattack In A Layby11. Strip The Soul12. Collapse The Light Into Earth

The fact that Porcupine Tree caught my attention is that mainman Steven Wilson had helped Opeth on co-writing many songs on Damnation and Black Water Park, so I was sure I will not be deceived by this release "In Absentia," released in September 2002 via Lava/Atlantic Records. I was very excited to hear what an Opeth manager could offer and what "In Absentia" is all about.

Let's begin to say that this is no album for pure extreme metallers and even less for fans of the black influences, so if you are like that, stop reading and don't even think about purchasing it. Being a recent fan of Porcupine Tree, I can say with no doubt that this album is recommended for progressive/rock fans and for sure Black Water Park and Deliverance Fans. In Absentia generates an original musical structure similar to Opeth. Although, this album will always be considered as the band's best album ever, I fell in love with the band's progressive rock sound when getting this masterpiece. Progressive/darkened sound mixed with flawless drumming and guitar arrangements and great keyboard-driven passage work together with the affectionate vocal presence of S.Wislon.

There's this genuine sound of Opeth (Death Whispered A Lullaby) in Blackest Eyes, soothing uneasiness perfectly expressed with the song's chorus. Followed with Trains, starts with an acoustic passage then evokes a great progressive driven dark rock sound. Lips Of Ashes, Sound Of Muzak, Gravity Eyelids and Wedding Nails sound sad and evoke distressful atmosphere and remind you of the sad side of Atonement and Reverie/Harlequin Forest in Ghost reveries. Acoustic guitars swarming up with catchy vocals to create groovy melancholic character (it's merely what Ghost Reveries lacks).

The progressive path following the band since the re-entering on the scene has increased the chance to create a new sound completely different of the early career's albums. In Absentia sounds very well and has probably accelerated many heartbeats. It's not perfect but not either so far from perfection.

This album is great, although it seems that it runs out of strengh after it's first half, like you mentioned in your album highlights. The first five or six songs are This album. The Sound Of Musak, Gravity Eyelids, Wedding Nails and my personal pick.

9.4 feels just too much for this.. 9.4 is almost perfection. Sure this album is good, but to be fair, half of the tracks are just average/nothing that special. There are a few memorable songs, but as a whole it's not that outstanding. Solid production though.....tough pick. I'd say something between 8.5 and 9. Guess it's just a matter of taste....

9.4 feels just too much for this.. 9.4 is almost perfection. Sure this album is good, but to be fair, half of the tracks are just average/nothing that special. There are a few memorable songs, but as a whole it's not that outstanding. Solid production though.....tough pick. I'd say something between 8.5 and 9. Guess it's just a matter of taste....

Everybody is overrating nowadays, 8.5-9 is still really close to perfection, I'd say that not many albums at all deserve that high ratings. Only albums by my favourite artists and a few others does. So if you just like half the album, 8.5-9 seems waaay to high.
But since it's one of my favourite albums, 9.4 is not too much. A matter of taste, as you say

This album and Queensryches Operation Mindcrime were the first albums I really got in to lyrically. Although not a concept album per sey (or w/e), it does have a common theme, DARK. From serial killers to child abusers, derailed trains and the grim future of music, lyrically this album is incredible.